The Most Flavorful Barbeque in Saint Paul

Sōke BBQ & Hotpot

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (31)

"I'm not able to recommend Soke enthusiastically. The first significant problem that Soke needs to address is their reservation system, or lack thereof. It is walk-in only - if you're going during normal dinner hours, you could wait over 1.5 hours to get a table. That was our experience for a table of four Saturday night. We weren't given a timeframe; we had to ask for updates 3 separate times. Not a great way to start a dining experience. By the time we were seated, some of us were hangry (to be expected). I noticed that some tables desperately needed to be bussed, with numerous plates piled high. Service is on the slow side. Banchans arrive in super small square plates. We were given 5 sides and it was like 1 micro bite for each of us. While refills are complimentary, it just doesn't seem efficient to have staff filling these small plates when you could give larger portions. That would satisfy both diners and minimize back and forth for staff. The sauce bar contains a good variety of condiments and make your own sauces but it was unkept. You could tell sauces had not been refilled and the counter was messy. Hot pot and bbq portions lean towards the small side and because if that, I would call Soke a moderately expensive meal. There's a good variety of vegetables and meat cuts but given the smaller portions, I felt prices were inflated and not worth the value. Along with the upfront wait, food also takes awhile to arrive. Surprisingly, the burners took much longer to heat up so it's all just one big waiting game.Lastly, because it's Korean bbq, just know your clothes are going to reek of meat and oil fumes afterwards. It smells delicious in the restaurant but everything you wear will carry a strong strong smell when you leave."

Hickory Hut

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (102) • $$

"WOW, I was pleasantly surprised with the wings and hojos. This place was nostalgic for my boyfriend as his dad used to bring these wings to him as a child but they were at a different restaurant (shorty n wags). I believe they are closed so he's been on the hunt to find ones identical to those ones and these were exactly that. Staff was welcoming and helpful but nothing over the top. Inside is a little small but enough room to sit down and eat if you'd like. The dry rub on the wings was very flavorful with a sweet and spicy flavor. The hojos and wings were cooked to perfection. These thinly sliced potatoes are in between a potato chip and scalp potatoes and they were seasoned very well. We also got a side of the Mac n cheese and honestly I'd skip it in the future. It lacked flavor and tasted like cardboard so it was a hard no for me. It filled my boyfriend's craving of those nostalgic wings he had as a child. Besides the Mac, I would rate the food a solid 5/5 and will definitely be back."

Rollin Nolen's BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.9 (13)

"Rollin Nolen's has been hanging outside of my place of employment on occasion over the last two years, so I've had a chance to try a good portion of their offerings.It seems as if most of the smoked things on the menu have the same thing in common - a pretty aggressive amount of smoke flavor and being somewhat dry. The ribs, rib tips and pulled pork are fine, but are mostly just smoke and the accompanying sauce. Some of the sides are pretty good (cheese curds) and some aren't worth the calories (the too sweet/cinnamony baked beans and soggy fries).Prices are pretty reasonable so you can get a filling meal for around twelve bucks, just temper your expectations."

Jellybean and Julia's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (291) • $$

"Stopped in for dinner with a friend and her family since we were in the area and we were all really happy with the decision to do so, the staff were friendly and the food was fantastic! My friend and I both got a cocktail and I absolutely loved mine- it had cranberry and ginger and was very tasty. I got the pulled pork nachos, her kids got the boneless wings and a cheeseburger and both loved what they got too. Can't remember what she got to eat but we all left happy! It's not in my area but definitely plan to go back when possible."

Art Song's Wings

★★★★☆ 4.2 (6)

"nobody makes wings like this. real asset to the community. love the sides, too, especially the rice and jojo potatoes"

Dosirak

★★★★☆ 3.7 (39)

"The only reason I'm giving Dosirak 4 stars is the most important part of this restaurant the food is GOOD! Everyone in my group had something different on the menu because we all have different Korean faves and we all loved what we ordered.You walk up to the counter and order, the host at the counter was short with us when we had questions, so you kind of have to know what you want, she was very disinterested in helping us figure out what was good, so I say google ahead or ask questions of people that know more and just go up with your order. You pick your own seating and they give you a number and bring your order out to you. The food came out pretty quickly, but we were not there at a popular dining time. I've seen the restaurant be VERY full at popular dining times so we purposely went after 7pm on a weekeday. Don't go too late though because the Asian Mall closes!"

Tres Pozole Mexican Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (8)

"A hidden gem in St Cloud! We stopped here on our way through St Cloud and we were absolutely blown away. The owner was there and he gave us samples since it was our first time! Everything was so amazing, it was hard to choose what to order! My boyfriend went with the Pork Ribs (Costillas de Puerco) and it was honestly some of the best food we've ever tasted. These ribs are a labor of love, made special each day. The salsa on them really was (like the owner said) the best we had ever tried! Both pozoles we tried were also unbelievably flavorful. I got the Barbacoa Tacos and we split the Birria Tacos. The barbacoa was absolutely amazing, I could eat ten more tacos any day. They also make their tortillas by hand and you can tell; they are so much better than the bagged kind. The service was top tier, the food was incredible and the prices were very reasonable. If you're in St Cloud, make this a stop on your trip!"

Wing Joint

★★★★☆ 4.1 (115) • $

"I love their chicken. Took a chance one day and became a once a month regular. The seasoning is so good on this chicken, it seems to have a hint of cinnamon flavor. The wings can be on the smaller side so keep that in mind when ordering. The flavor is worth the size. Chicken is fresh every time, usually 20 min wait. It's always busy in there so that's a good sign the food is good. I like their potato wedges too. The sweet and sour sauce is so good too, made in house I was told by an employee. This is the best chicken in the area."

Smokin’ J’s BBQ

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Great BBQ - 5 stars!I stumbled across the Smokin' J's food truck in the parking lot of the new liquor store across from Bill's Superette in Ramsey, just north of Anoka. Of course, I had to check them out, especially since they specialize in meats!The first thing I really love about these folks is they didn't mind accommodating my low carbohydrate, carnivore eating style - no problem whatsoever. They didn't force me to purchase plant-based sides, which I really appreciate.I grabbed a Brisket Sandwich without the bun. I also ordered some ribs. But instead of the full dinner with sides, they let me order the ribs a la carte with sauce on the side. All of my food was very good.I recommend trying Smokin' J's if you love BBQ. The owners are very nice too. I had fun chatting with them. I'd go back again any time.Thumbs up!-Maxx"

Petey's BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (6)

"This smoked bbq is legit! The brisket and burnt ends are amazing, the rib tips are meaty and full of flavor, and the wings are some of the best I've had! Seriously don't miss out on this experience, it's really good food! If you want to top it off with a little desert the banana cream pudding in the mason jar is lit! That's if you have any room left for desert. Can't say enough good things about this place, all around great food. I'm from Chicago and go for the Bears games, the bbq is the highlight of the game! The owner is a great guy and knows his bbq, he's mastered the smoke!"

Piggy Blue's Bar-B-Que

★★★★★ 4.5 (130) • $$

"Loved the bbq here. If you're feeling it, they have a Spam menu perfect for a post-museum meal!"

Barbacoa American & Mexican Food

★★★★★ 4.7 (23)

"Stopped in here on our way to Alexandria on a Friday evening. The BEST margaritas we've had in ages! Food was homemade, fresh and delicious. Locally owned, owner in the kitchen, authentic food."

Baldy's BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.5 (139) • $$

"Baldy's has a simple decor and menu. This will not underestimate the fantastic ribs and portions here. I had the Special 3$ off rib tips. I had side of fries, too. Wow. Fantastic. Big portions. Big tastes. Topped off with a great smile and service from Rachel. I heard it was good. Go out of your way. Five Stars."

Black Cherry Smokehouse

★★★★☆ 4.4 (8)

"I am happy that we have another option in our small community. After several separate visits I am happy to give Black Cherry Smokehouse a thumbs up!"

3rd Street Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (120) • $$

"This was easily the best meal we have had in a while. Every single thing we ate was fantastic. The bartender recommended the queso, which I would not have ordered, and it was great. I got the chicken sandwich with a side of mac and cheese and both were delicious. My husband got the burger and fries which were also amazing. I would give this place 100 stars!"

Smoke Session BBQ

★★★★★ 4.9 (16)

"I have stopped by Smoke Session's food truck a couple of times now - I suspect that's a trend that is going to continue.The food truck can often be found camped out in a vacant lot on White Bear Ave during the week. The daily offerings vary a bit, but so far I can speak to the deliciousness that is their brisket, ribs and Hmong sausage. While not too heavy on the smoke everything has always been really well cooked, tender and tasty. Side dishes aren't anything special, but you can get rice, fries and coleslaw to go with any meal.For BBQ the prices are pretty reasonable, the staff has always been friendly and since they often appear to sell out during the day it appears others seem to agree."

House Of Kirin

★★★★☆ 4 (43)

"As a girly from California who's accustomed to authentic Cantonese style dim sum, I give this place two thumbs up considering Minnesota is not known for its dim sum. My lil bro and his wife generally goes to Yangtze and has taken me there before but I was not impressed. The menu is pretty extensive considering you can order dim sum plus the regular menu on weekends. I came on Saturday because I've been waiting all week to try the dim sum during my visit. Everything came piping hot and was fresh and the servers were all extremely nice. I wish I had more stomach because there were so many things in the menu I didn't get to try. My lil bro first griped that this place was too far, but after he ate, he changed his tune and said "okay" when asked to come back"

Come and Take It BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (6) • $

"I really enjoy their pulled pork, it tastes really good. Even though he has only done it for a few years, it seems that I really appreciate the fresh taste that this place has. Also I really enjoy the homemade potato salad and coleslaw. It seems everything is made fresh, which I really enjoy."

Hilltop Retreat

★★★★☆ 4.2 (11)

"Cheers to the Hilltop crew. Other two reviews over 2 years old. New owner and team are doing a great job. Great salad bar with lots of choices and fresh veggies. Wild rice soup was spot on and not too salty with a great balance of rice to chicken Had the chicken caprese dinner. Chicken was tender and great flavor atop of great garlic mash. Finished the meal with a brandy alexander. All the staff was friendly and outgoing. Will be back. Worth the drive."

D’s Smokehouse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (61)

"You guysssss! I have never, ever had brisket like this in my life. So tender, it basically melts in your mouth, but has this awesome charred outer texture. We stopped here on our way up north, and will definitely be back! Kudos to the chef, as all of our dishes were a 10/10. The baked beans were a really special treat."

Firebox Deli

★★★★☆ 4.3 (82)

"It's been a long time since I visited Firebox. In fact it was when they had a North Mpls location. We had a guys night out and ordered way too much. Steve didn't get my message that we ordered a feast and it's at the table... So he got even more. What did we get? The feast. Comes w wings, ribs and choice of pulled pork or brisket. We also got some tips. You get four sides so we did two collard greens and two Mac n cheese. They added some fries... Which is great. Noah got some hot sauce and super hot sauce. Which if you.ix w the barbecue sauce is excellent. It was all great and you have a big challenge finding a place to park. Otherwise it's great. The staff is super nice and family owned."

Smoke In The Pit

★★★★☆ 4.3 (253) • $

"Smoke in the Pit is my #1 spot to go to for some serious BBQ. I personally think they have the best meats around. No question. It's a hole in the wall spot located on Chicago Ave that serves up an incredible menu. My favorite meal to order from here is the 3 ribs with fries lunch combo for $7.79. I don't even like barbecue sauce, but their barbecue sauce is an exception for me. It's tangy, smoky, and tastes perfect with the ribs. I don't know what seasoning they put on their battered fries, but these fries have my heart. They're so addicting and come hot and fresh every time I've been. I also really love their brisket, pulled pork, and collard greens here.This place does not have dine-in, and has always been a pick-up only spot even prior to the pandemic. When you enter their doors, it feels like a lobby area where they keep it simple: an order window and a pick up window. You place an order to the right and slide to the left to grab your food once it's prepared. There's free street parking right outside. Smoke in the Pit is a staple in the Twin Cities. Their meat is not only flavorful and juicy, you're not breaking the bank to get some real BBQ. In the summer, I love coming here to order several different menu items and bringing it all to a nearby lake or park to have a picnic. Their food is glorious y'all and I promise you'll fall in love with it too. They have some fried spaghetti that I have my eye on for my next trip."

Ray Jay's

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (37) • $$

"Crazy-sweet human beings! We've only been up here for 24 hours and we've already stopped 3 times. Think we're on our way to becoming regulars, at least while we're in town. So far I've had the burger, the wings and the pizza. All three of were fantastic but I think the burger was my favorite. Come for the food, stay for the company. Keep it up, y'all!"

The Golden Chipmunk

★★★★☆ 3.7 (14) • $

"This is just the kind of tavern you want to visit when hanging out "at the lake." Sit down at the bar and look out the window--check out the fantastic view! Want a beer? They've got almost every New Glarus product available. Want a cocktail? Expect a generous pour. Food is good if you keep to the bar basics: my BBQ ribs were only OK, but my burger was quite good. Don't forget the waffle fries. Staff and customers are friendly. Free wi-fi to boot! Well worth a visit."

Charley Cat Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.8 (5)

"Good as always!! See my previous review for details. Nashville Hot sandwich is amazing!! The only reason I have them 4 stars is that it took forever this time, it was Valentine's Day but it was the longest wait I've ever had."

Black Market StP

★★★★☆ 4.2 (21)

"OOOOOHHH MY GOD! BEEF SHORT RIBS!!I'm in love with a piece of meat, may as well put me on TLC's "My Strange Addiction." I'd be on there making out with Black Market's beef ribs. My husband planned a date night and told me he found "some place where we buy barbecue from a driveway." I wasn't sure what to expect given his description, but kept an open mind. He made an order ahead of time online, the beef short ribs, and smoked beans. When we arrived it was a smoker truck/trailer thing on the street in a residential neighborhood. Super duper nice couple packaging orders and taking payments. When the nice lady finished up our payment she told us we were in for a treat. It turned out to be one of the most memorable meals for me in 2017, and the best beef short rib that has landed in my mouth.I suffered the whole 20 minute drive home. I had to sit there and smell the stuff, drooling on myself. Once home I still had another 15 minute wait while we got our table ready and corn bread prepared. Then it happened, I got the beef on my plate. It fell of the bone. It was tender, smoky, juicy, meaty, and packed with flavor. It was sooo damn good. I couldn't even talk, I had to keep eating. The smoked beans was practically a bowl of pork shoulder with 3 beans. Insanely good. Best bbq in MN. It's a must try."

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque

★★★★☆ 4 (208) • $$$

"Sunday brunch was totally worth the visit - they've been doing it for 5 weeks! Our group of 7 made a 10am reservation and was super happy with the food, service, and ambiance. The bbq was delicious (we especially liked the beef, goat, turkey, burnt ends, and brisket), all the brunch items were fresh (french toast, muffins, biscuits and gravy), there were made to order omelets, all the sides/fixings were tasty (coleslaw, burnt end potato salad, strawberry salad, grits), fresh fruit, pastries, and cheese were all lovely extras to add on! The adults all had cocktails and enjoyed them - there were a variety including bloody Marys, old fashioneds, mimosas, and coffee cocktails. We'll definitely be back!"

Animales Barbeque

★★★★★ 4.5 (92) • $$

"Really good bbqRibs were tender, great flavor. Hot links.... Delicious. Cubano was also great. Friend got the pork belly and loved it. Service was pretty quick. Would definitely come back. We came on a rainy day which was a good idea bc it was busy, can't imagine what it's like on a nice day"

County Line

★★★★☆ 4.2 (23) • $

"It's Labor Day weekend at the cabin, instead of making dinner we decided to head-out for dinner. We arrived at the tavern around 5:10 and the parking lot was packed! Ughh, with two little ones who are starving we ventured in anyway. Put our name in for a table of four and we were told we would be seated in approx 20 minutes....no problem...40 minutes later we were seated...yikes. The hostess seemed a bit frazzled, but the general layout of the restaurant/bar made for confusion for patrons. We ordered as soon as we were seated (we had plenty of time to checkout the menu) at 5:50 as time ticked by still no food....as 6:45 approached we asked our server how our food was coming along? Her reply "ohhh it's going to be awhile-did ya order da fish?". Umm "no chicken" she came back literally two minutes later with our food....really!?The broasted chicken was very good along with the mashed potatoes and cole slaw. I would definitely come back. For thos of you thinking "broasted"...what is that (I wasn't familiar either)? Broasting is a trademark applied to a method of cooking chicken and other foods using a pressure fryer and condiments. The technique was invented by L.A.M. Phelan in the early 1950s and is marketed by the Broaster Company of Beloit, Wisconsin, which Phelan founded.The method essentially combines pressure cooking with deep frying chicken that has been marinated and breaded. The result is the chicken is said to be crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, i.e., like traditional fried chicken but less greasy. Another advantage of broasting over deep-frying is that large quantities of chicken can be prepared more quickly, 12-13 minutes instead of 20. I think hanging out on the weekend, especially Labor Day weekend plan ahead it's busy up hear! Get broasted and toasted!"

Willy McCoys

★★★★☆ 3.5 (158) • $$

"We came in on the 4th of July when I drive us to our other restaurant but they were closed They were open and although we had a wait time, it wasn't more than 5-10 min before we got sat! For starters, they have a full bar and had 2 for 1 beers! I ordered a cider beer and it was great. We got the shrimp appetizer, and I was pretty impressed with how yummy it was!! We also ordered the honey mustard chicken salad, the cuban melt and fries, and also the kids pizza ! The chicken salad was delicious I almost ate the entire thing. I almost stole my bfs Cuban sandwich melt, it was amazing. Very great service, great drinks, great food, kid friendly, I was very impressed! We will be back, thanks!!"

The Lookout Bar and Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (172) • $$

"Love the lookout. The appetizers are great especially the totchos and ghost pepper cheese curds when they have them. Definitely has a dive bar feel but worth it. The food is reasonably priced and it's great for happy hours or if you like playing volleyball. Parking is pretty limited in the evenings during the summer but there is street parking."

Whiskey Inferno

★★★★☆ 3.6 (255) • $$

"Whiskey Inferno is a nice option for non-chain restaurant dining in Savage. My husband and I usually go for a few cocktails and an app as the entrees are a bit overpriced. That said, their cocktails are SO good and they mix up their cocktail menu. It's got a fun ambiance/atmosphere and the decor makes it feel a little edgy. It gets pretty crowded on weekend evenings so prepare to wait a bit. Plenty of parking though. Whiskey Inferno is a great spot for a date night or to meet up with friends!"

Rooster's BBQ Deli

★★★★☆ 3.9 (150) • $$

"You pick up the ribs with a side of the hot bbq sauce to keep it interesting. You don't expect much from the fries but that's ok because you have that sauce side for dipping. You go home (it's mainly carry out) and make a mess with a friend. Look back on it and say, 'I'd do that again.'"

Rack Shack BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (67) • $

"Rack Shack Revitalized!!!Having eaten at Rack Shack under previous owners, and after reading some negative reviews about the new ones, we were skeptical. We. We're. Wrong. My husband ordered the half rack of ribs, and they were the juiciest they've ever been. I had the Philly melt with brisket and it had much more meat than I expected and was so flavorful. We shared the cheese curds and onion rings, and they were crispy and seasoned well - unlike the previous ones which were way too salty. The ranch was flawless. It wasn't runny and bland - it was thick, perfect for dipping. And the sauces are so good. We prefer the KC and the St. Paulie."

Forkless

★★★★☆ 3.9 (39)

"Cute, delicious bbq place with a family-owner atmosphere. Good place to take out or dine in with a few friends. My husband and I split the Smokehouse wrap with brisket and it filled us both up."